U.S. patent application number 11/260194 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for pouch-type packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to Alcan Technology & Management Ltd.. Invention is credited to Peter Roberts.
Application Number | 20080031555 11/260194 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34927331 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080031555 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roberts; Peter |
February 7, 2008 |
Pouch-type packaging
Abstract
A pouch (10) of a flexible film (12, 14) with at least one
sealing layer is such that the film (12, 14) is sealed onto itself
or onto another film along a sealing seam (16) and delimits a space
(18) for the contents. Part (20) of the sealing seam (16) is
peelable apart. A suitable flexible film for manufacturing the
pouch (10) is a multilayered co-extruded film which is joined via a
second layer of a metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene to at least
one further layer of homopolymer or copolymer polypropylene or
polyethylene.
Inventors: |
Roberts; Peter; (Penrith,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISHER, CHRISTEN & SABOL
1725 K STREET, N.W., SUITE 1108
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
Alcan Technology & Management
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
34927331 |
Appl. No.: |
11/260194 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/210 ;
493/267 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B 27/08 20130101;
B32B 2307/748 20130101; B65D 75/5855 20130101; B31B 70/64 20170801;
B32B 2307/31 20130101; B32B 27/327 20130101; B65D 75/008 20130101;
B32B 27/32 20130101; B32B 2439/70 20130101; B65D 75/5805 20130101;
B32B 7/06 20130101; B32B 5/142 20130101; B32B 2439/46 20130101;
B32B 2307/546 20130101; B32B 2250/242 20130101; B32B 2307/582
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/210 ;
493/267 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/26 20060101
B65D065/26; B31B 1/62 20060101 B31B001/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 11, 2004 |
EP |
04026755.1 |
Claims
1: A pouch of a flexible film (12, 14) with at least one sealing
layer, the film (12, 14) is sealed along a sealing seam (16) onto
itself or onto another film and delimits a space (18) for the
contents, a part (20) of the sealing seam (16) can be peeled
apart.
2: The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the peelable part (20)
of the sealing seam (16) runs across a corner (22) of the
pouch.
3: The pouch according to claim 2, wherein at least one aid to
tearing (32, 34) is provided in the sealing seam (16).
4: The pouch according to claim 1, wherein the pouch is a
self-standing pouch with a base part and wall rising from the base
part, the end of the pouch remote from the base part forms at least
one corner (22) and the peelable part (20) of the sealing seam (16)
runs across the corner (22) of the pouch.
5: The pouch according to claim 4, wherein at least one aid to
tearing (32, 34) is provided in the sealing seam (16) below the
corner (22) of the pouch.
6: A process for manufacturing a pouch out of a flexible film (12,
14) having at least one sealing seam, sealing the film (12, 14)
onto itself forming a sealing seam (16) thus forming a pouch (10),
in order to form a peelable join between the films (12, 14) that
are sealed onto each other, a part (20) of the sealing seam (16) is
sealed at a first temperature T.sub.1 and, in order to form a very
strong or permanent join between the films (12, 14), the sealing
seam (16) is sealed at a second temperature T.sub.2 which is higher
than the first temperature T.sub.1.
7: The process according to claim 6, wherein the first sealing
temperature T.sub.1 lies in a range of 95 to 115.degree. C. and the
second temperature T.sub.2 lies in a range greater than 130.degree.
C.
8: The process according to claim 7, wherein the first temperature
T.sub.1 lies 15 to 30.degree. C. lower than the second temperature
T.sub.2.
9: A flexible film with a sealing layer (36) for manufacturing a
pouch according to claim 5, wherein the film is a multilayer
co-extruded film and the sealing layer (36) is of a ionomer-based
elastomer polymer which is joined via a second layer (38) of a
metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene to at least one other layer (40,
42) of homopolymer or co polymer copolymer polypropylene or
polyethylene.
10: The flexible film according to claim 9, wherein the second
layer (38) is of a metallocene-catalyzed linear polyethylene in the
density range of 0.927 to 0.956 g/cm.sup.3.
11: The pouch according to claim 3, wherein the at least one aid to
tearing (32, 34) is a notch.
12: The pouch according to claim 11, wherein there are two of the
at least one aid to tearing (32, 34) and each thereof is a
notch.
13: The pouch according to claim 5, wherein the at least one aid to
tearing (32, 34) is a notch.
14: The pouch according to claim 13, wherein there are two of the
at least one aid to tearing (32, 34) and each thereof is a
notch.
15: The pouch according to claim 1, wherein at least one aid to
tearing (32, 34) is provided in the sealing seam (16).
16: The pouch according to claim 15, wherein the at least one aid
to tearing (32, 34) is a notch.
17: The pouch according to claim 16, wherein there are two of the
at least one aid to tearing (32, 34) and each thereof is a
notch.
18: A flexible film with a sealing layer (36) for manufacturing a
pouch according to claim 1, wherein the film is a multilayer
co-extruded film and the sealing layer (36) is a of a ionomer-based
elastomer polymer which is joined via a second layer (38) of a
metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene to at least one other layer (40,
42) of homopolymer or copolymer polypropylene or polyethylene.
19: The flexible film according to claim 9, wherein the second
layer (38) is of a metallocene-catalyzed linear polyethylene in the
density range 0.927 to 0.956 g/cm.sup.3.
20: The pouch according to claim 1, wherein a base region of the
pouch is a base part (15) that is sealed between the film (12,14)
along the sealing seam (16), the base part (15) is of the same
film-type material of films (12, 14), and, upon filling of the
pouch, the base part (15) becomes a part for standing the pouch on.
Description
[0001] This application has priority benefit of European Patent
Application No. 04026755.1, filed on Nov. 11, 2004.
[0002] The invention relates to a pouch of flexible film-type
material with at least one sealing seam, whereby the film is sealed
onto itself or another film along a sealing seam and delimits a
space for the contents. The invention relates also to a process and
a flexible film for manufacturing the pouch.
[0003] Pouches made from flexible film-type material are used
widely today for packaging fluid and pourable contents of all
kinds. Known forms of pouch-type packaging are e.g. flat,
self-standing and tube-shaped pouches of different sizes for use in
the home and in industry. Common to all pouches is the formation of
a tightly sealed space for the contents which is formed by sealing
flexible film-type material onto itself or onto another film-type
material thus making a permanent seam. Normally, a pre-made pouch
which is open at one place is produced at the start. After the
contents have been put into the pouch, the pouch is sealed tightly
by means of another seam.
[0004] To remove the contents from the pouch, such a pouch is e.g.
torn open across the sealing seam or cut open using scissors at a
place designated for that purpose. Often the pouch also exhibits an
opening place in the form of a notch in the sealing seam.
[0005] The object of the invention is to create a pouch of the kind
mentioned at the start which, on the one hand can be torn open in
an easy manner, and on the other hand enables an opening for
pouring to be formed without requiring excessive force and without
mechanical aid.
[0006] That objective is achieved by way of the invention in that
part of the sealing seam is can be peeled back.
[0007] In order to form an opening for pouring, the peelable part
of the sealing seam preferably runs over a corner of the pouch.
[0008] Usefully at least one aid to tearing, in particular a notch,
is provided in the sealing seam.
[0009] A preferred version of a pouch is a self-standing pouch with
a base and a wall rising from the base, whereby the end of the
pouch remote from the base forms at least one corner on the pouch
and the peelable part of the sealing seam runs across the said
corner. At least one aid to tearing, in particular a notch, may be
provided in the sealing seam below the corner of the pouch.
[0010] A process for manufacturing a pouch made from a flexible
film-type material with at least one sealing seam, in which the
film is sealed onto itself thus forming a sealing seam that seals
the pouch is such that, in order to form a peelable join between
the films that are sealed onto each other, the said sealing seam is
sealed in one region at a first temperature T.sub.1, and in order
to form a very high peel strength and considered a permanent join
between the films that are sealed onto each other, sealed at a
second temperature T.sub.2 which is higher than the first
temperature T.sub.1.
[0011] The first temperature T.sub.1 lies preferably in a range of
95 to 115.degree. C. and the second temperature T.sub.2 in a range
>130.degree. C. The breadth of the temperature frame for
manufacturing a sealing seam with good peeling properties is about
20.degree. C. Within this temperature frame the peeling force
required to separate the sealing seam increases with increasing
temperature.
[0012] In general the first temperature T.sub.1 required to produce
a peelable sealing seam lies approx. 15 to 30.degree. C. lower than
the second temperature T.sub.2 required to pro-duce a very high
peel strength or permanent, inseparable seam.
[0013] Setting the desired peeling force or the degree of
inseparability of the seam is achieved by appropriate alteration of
the temperature in the sealing station.
[0014] A suitable flexible film-type material for manufacturing a
pouch according to the invention with the desired peeling
properties in the sealing seam comprises at least three layers and
is produced via multilayer blown film co-extrusion using the
following sequence of layers:
[0015] A: sealing layer made of an ionomer-based elastomer
polymer
[0016] B: metallocene-catalysed polyethylene
[0017] C: homopolymer or co-polymer polyethylene or
polypropylene
[0018] The temperature range mentioned above applies in particular
for the multilayer co-extrusion film according to the invention
with the sequence of layers A-B-C C.sub.1-C.sub.2, C.sub.3, . . .
C.sub.n)
[0019] The thickness of the film, depending on the application,
normally lies approximately in the range of 30 to 150 .mu.m. The
thickness of the film is however not limited to this range. The
number of C-layers of homopolmer or co-polymer polyethylene or
polypropylene may vary, depending on the desired thickness of
film.
[0020] The temperature range mentioned above applies in particular
for the multilayer co-extrusion film according to the invention
with the sequence of layers A-B-C (or C.sub.1-C.sub.2, C.sub.3, . .
. C.sub.n).
[0021] Pouches of all shapes and sizes can be produced using the
multilayer-co-extrusion films according to the invention. The
principle advantage of the multilayer co-extrusion film compared
with known packaging films made up of at least two films according
to the state of the art, is that the dual function of peelable and
inseparable sealing can by way of the invention be achieved by one
single film-type laminate or one single film.
[0022] A further advantage of the multilayer co-extrusion film is
apparent on tearing open the pouch. If the tearing notch is
positioned such that the tear initiated from the notch lies in the
running direction of the extruded film then, on tearing the pouch
open further, the tear continues to run linearly in this direction.
This property is taken into account in the manufacture of the pouch
in that the intended line of tearing with the related notch is laid
parallel to the running direction of the film.
[0023] Further advantages, features and details of the invention
are revealed in the following description of preferred examples and
with the aid of the drawing which shows schematically in
[0024] FIG. 1 a side view of a partly closed pouch;
[0025] FIG. 2 a cut through the pouch shown in FIG. 1 along line
I-I;
[0026] FIG. 3 cross-section through a flexible film.
[0027] A pouch 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises two
approximately rectangular-shaped wall parts 12, 14 made of flexible
film-type material. Both wall parts 12, 12, 14 are joined very
strongly or inseparably via a common sealing seam 16 and delimit a
space 18 for the contents. Indicated in a base region of the pouch
10 is a base part of the same film-type material which is sealed
between the wall parts 12, 14. On filling the pouch 10 the base
part 15 becomes a part for standing the pouch on i.e. the pouch 10
is a so-called self-standing pouch.
[0028] A peelable part 20 of the sealing seam 16 runs across a
corner 22 of the pouch remote from the base 15 and is a component
of the easy-to-open closure 24. Tearing flaps 26, 28 situated in
the region of the corner 22 and consisting of wall parts 12, 14
that are not sealed together in this corner region, serve as an aid
to opening this closure.
[0029] In the edge region the pouch exhibits an opening 30. The
opening 30 is delimited by the edge of the wall parts 12, 14 that
are not yet sealed onto each other in this region. After filling
the pouch 10 with its contents, both wall parts 12, 14 are sealed
onto each other in the region of the opening, thus closing off the
pouch.
[0030] Two facing notches 32, 34 are provided in the sealing seam
16 below the peelable region 20. The imaginary joining line p
between the two notches 32, 34 lies parallel to the running
direction x of the film out of which the wall parts 12, 14 are
made.
[0031] The pouch may be opened two ways: [0032] By pulling on the
upper end of the pouch transverse to the sealing seam 16 with the
notches 32, 34 the wall parts 12, 14 of the pouch 10 tear apart at
one of the notches 32, 34. On pulling further, the tear progresses
through both wall parts 12, 14 linearly and parallel to the running
direction x of the film--forming a larger opening across the pouch
10 right up to the opposite edge of the pouch.
[0033] The different sealing strengths which lead to a very
strongly joined or inseparable seam 16 and a peelable part 20 of
the seam 16 is achieved by different sealing temperatures.
[0034] A particularly suitable film-type material for manufacturing
the pouch 10 features--as shown in FIG. 3--a sealing layer 36 of an
ionomer-based elastomer polymer. Bonded onto the sealing layer 36
is a layer 38 of a metallocene-catalysed polyethylene within a
density range 0.927 to 0.956 g/cm.sup.3. Further layers 40, 42, 44
are, by way of choice, of homopolymer or co-polymer polyethylene or
polypropylene.
* * * * *